Updated – 5:15pm C.T. – According to multiple reports, Jim Edmonds is in Chicago taking a physical and if he passes it will be signed tonight…and will be in a Cubs’ uniform on Thursday.

After scoring 12 runs in the first game of the series on Monday night, the Cubs managed only 3 runs against Shawn Estes on Tuesday and tonight figures to be a big challenge for the Cubs offense. Lou Piniella’s crew will have the chore of trying to plate runs against one of the best pitchers in all of baseball, Jake Peavy. The Cubs have never beaten the Padres’ ace while Ted Lilly has never lost to the Padres….so something’s going to give.

Ted Lilly stated after last Friday’s win against the Diamondbacks that he knew he had to step up against Dan Haren and in order for the Cubs to win tonight, the ‘Bulldog‘ will have to turn in a similar performance.

After a horrible start to the year, Ted Lilly has returned to his 2007 form. Lilly has posted back-to-back wins and has won 3 of his last 4 starts with a 2.70 ERA….6 earned runs on 13 hits in 20 innings with 21 strikeouts and 5 walks. Lilly is coming off a gem against the Diamondbacks last Friday and will have to turn in a similar performance tonight against the reigning NL Cy Young Award winner. Lilly held the D’Backs explosive offense to just 1 run on 3 hits, a solo home run by Chris Young, in 7 innings with a season-high 10 strikeouts.

Lilly is 3-0 in 4 career games, 3 starts, against the Padres with a complete game. Lilly has allowed only 6 runs on 17 hits to the Friars in 24 2/3 innings….a 2.19 ERA and a 0.93 WHIP. Lilly beat the Padres at Wrigley last June 15th and held them to 1 run on 6 hits in 8 innings with 3 strikeouts and a walk.

Jody Gerut – 3-for-8 with a double

Brian Giles – 0-for-4

Adrian Gonzalez – 1-for-3 with a triple

Kahlil Greene – 1-for-5

Scott Hairston – 2-for-4 with a home run

Tadahito Iguchi – 3-for-9 with 2 home runs

Jake Peavy – 1-for-2

The Cubs offense will have their hands full tonight with one, if not the best pitcher in the National League. Jake Peavy has pitched better than his 4-2 record indicates and the Cubs offense will have to be extremely patient at the plate tonight. In Peavy’s two losses he has allowed a total of 5 earned runs on 11 hits in 13 innings with 15 strikeouts and 5 walks.

Jake Peavy has never lost to the Cubs, he is 2-0 in 5 career starts with a 2.10 ERA and a 1.23 WHIP.